Naval Base Point Loma Hosts Beach Clean Up for Earth Day

SAN DIEGO, CA, UNITED STATES

04.22.2021

Story by Petty Officer 3rd Class Jailene Casso 

Naval Base Point Loma

SAN DIEGO – In support of Earth Day, on April 22, 2021, Naval Base Point Loma held a beach clean-up at both the Subase and Harbor Drive Annex campuses of the installation.
The Command Triad, Sailors and civilian employees geared up with bags and gloves to walk the areas by the edge of the water looking for any trash to be disposed of.
“Any trash that we remove from the shoreline during events like this, is that much less trash that can breakdown and become a contaminant to the San Diego Bay, Pacific Ocean, or to the plants and animals in them,” said Robert Chichester, Naval Base Point Loma’s Installation Environmental Program Director. “If not removed and properly disposed of, many of the items we find can break down and become a contaminant. Items like plastic bags and bottles can be a hazard to the green sea turtles living in San Diego Bay.”
On the Harbor Drive side, a team of about 12 volunteers found 1 vehicle tire, 1 one-gallon can of paint, 2 aerosol cans, 1 approximate 4’ x 3’ rug, fluorescent light bulbs, 2 large pieces of wood, 1 boat bumper and 12 bags of trash. On the Subase side a group of about 20 volunteers found used lobster pots, sections of electrical cabling, plastic wrappers, plastic bottles, numerous pieces of Styrofoam, fishing lures, and approximately 6 bags of trash.
“If you see a piece of trash during you daily activities, take the time to pick it up and put it in the recycling bin or the trash,” said Chichester. “The 10 seconds you spend doing so can really have a positive impact on the environment.”
Recycling can make a significant positive impact on the environment, especially for beaches and bodies of water where fish and other animals reside. Recycling is a way to help protect their habitats.
“I have a couple of reasons why this one was important,” said Command Master Chief Warren Britten, Command Master Chief at Naval Base Point Loma. “First one being very obvious, we have to do our part to keep the environment safe and clean. Secondly, this was one of the last events we did as a command in 2020 before COVID put a pause on large gatherings. So to be able to come back a year later and do an event of such importance says a lot about our future and how far we have come since last year.”
Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, areas of the base that are usually available for leisure activities or group gatherings have been closed for over a year now.
“We need to protect what we have earned,” said Britten. “We have so much to be thankful for and we should always want to do our part to keep it in its best shape and form.”
Tenant Commands also did their part by cleaning around their buildings. Naval Base Point Loma continues to host events like this one in an effort to make a change for the environment and keep the base in the best conditions.

• Date Taken: 04.22.2021
• Date Posted: 04.27.2021 13:33
• Story ID: 394898
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CA, US